Hiller did not call out anyone by name but said that one of the reasons why they're not winning is because of their ineffectiveness in defending against opposing forwards down low or keeping teams from getting odd-man rushes against them.

"It looks like we're there but we're not really there," he said after the game. "We're kind of physically there but probably mentally already in the other zone or, I don't know, still in the dressing room. I don't know what.

"To me, it looks like we get so many errors. Suddenly guys are all by themselves in the slot out of a nothing play. Two guys chasing one guy. We're playing here in the NHL and I don't think that should happen."

Boudreau didn't sound too concerned about any lasting effect by the comments with players in the room.

"If it continues, it would backfire," he said. "I think he's a pretty quiet guy. That's out of character for him so I believe guys would take that to heart. ... We'll chat about that.

"He was frustrated. There is a lot of frustration going on right now. Hopefully we can change that."

Defenseman Toni Lydman didn't have a problem with Hiller speaking up after the Ducks blew a two-goal lead for the second consecutive game on the way to their 18th defeat in their last 21 contests.

"I think he had every right to be upset," Lydman said. "We started well and we were going good. For whatever reason, we had a [bad] period. More than a period of time in the game when we stopped doing the things that we did to have success earlier in the game.

"I don't mind guys voicing their opinion. Jonas sees everything out there. He's the last guy so he sees what's going on. I think he has a right to be upset with the way we played the second period."

Lydman said he didn't read Hiller's comments and said his advice is "don't read the papers."

"I recommend that to everybody else," he said. "I sort of stay out of it. I already know what happened in the game. No offense but I don't need to read other people's opinion about it. I don't need anybody reassuring me if my opinion is correct.

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.